Examination of Witnesses (Questions 120
- 127)
WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2010
MS ROSEMARIE
MACQUEEN,
MR STEVEN
BEE AND
MR JAMES
HOWE
Q120 John Thurso: This is all to
do with the rural estates, so I do not know if, Sir Peter, you
particularly want to encourage that, but if you would like to
chip in at any time, just chip in. It is a question I have asked
about the renewables side as well, which is The Crown Estate Commissioners
have a revenue earning remit that is subject to the requirements
of good management, and we have seen this evidence about the management
side and socio-economic side and how there can be tensions. Do
you think they have got the balance right with regard to the rural
estate in respect of the wider public interest in rural areas?
Mr Howe: As far as I am aware,
I think that they have.
Mr Bee: If I can add, from our
point of view I have explained that they are most dynamic in the
urban environment from our experience, but of course I have consulted
my directors across England before preparing this evidence and
the response I have got from the rural parts of the country is
that the relationship with The Crown Estate is good and stable
and not significantly changing. I have got one or two examples
of cases where there has been particularly active engagement both
with them, their agents and their tenants over scheduled monuments
underneath agricultural land, which of course is the biggest issue
we have in rural areas. My sense is that whatever changes there
might be in the rural economy through renewable energy, and so
on, The Crown Estate are generally pretty stable in the way they
are managing things.
Q121 John Thurso: The last question—and
again if either of you think you would like to say anything—which
is regarding the relationship between The Crown Estate Commissioners
and other public bodies operating in rural England. Are they sufficiently
close? Do they mesh well with the other bodies?
Mr Bee: Well, they work well with
us.
Q122 John Thurso: You are the biggest
one to worry about, are you not?
Mr Bee: Well, in terms or rural
issues maybe not. There are a number of public and third sector
agencies responsible for the rural economy, but in the work that
we do with those agencies I am not aware of any major obstacles
to participate in partnership and discussions.
Mr Howe: I would endorse that.
I am not aware of anything being an issue.
Q123 Chairman: Mr Howe, the National
Farmers Union also highlight the position of tenants at the rural
estates, particularly agricultural tenants who want to retire
and the difficulties they face in doing that. Are you aware of
particular issues facing those tenants?
Mr Howe: Yes, indeed.
Q124 Chairman: Do you think The Crown
Estate could be more proactive in assisting those tenants who
do wish to retire?
Mr Howe: It is certainly an industry-wide
concern that there are farm tenants who are in effect trapped
within their farm tenancies because they cannot afford to buy
retirement dwellings and to have money to live from.
Q125 Chairman: Do the Commissioners
not therefore have a wider responsibility to try and do more to
help them?
Mr Howe: Well, indeed, and I think
if I look at the practice we would be following we have a policy
of enquiring gently how a tenant of retirement age might be viewing
his or her future and if it becomes apparent that they have not
got the funds it is something that we do follow. We have just
completed an arrangement where a tenant and his wife are coming
out of a farm. We have purchased a house of their choice using
Commissioner's funds. The tenancy is for their joint lives. They
are on a rent between a fair rent and a market rent. That releases
the capital. There is a considerable uplift, as you will know,
from a tenanted farm to a vacant possession farm, giving freedom
then to do something with that farm.
Q126 Chairman: It also encourages
new entrants, does it not?
Mr Howe: It has the potential,
if that farm is to be retained and to be re-let, then it would
indeed allow either an enlargement of an adjoining holding which
might be beneficial or, indeed, allow progression from a smaller
holding to a larger holding if that should be the case.
Q127 Chairman: If the Church Commissioners
do that, why cannot the Estate Commissioners do that?
Mr Howe: With respect, Sir, I
am not sure if in fact that is their policy. It may be that I
am saying that is a way of getting around this particular blockage
for the benefit of the farmer, the industry and the owners.
Chairman: All right. Thank you very much.
We are going to leave it there. Can I thank the three of you for
your evidence. Thank you very much indeed.
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